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The 4% Fix
HarperCollins Canada editorial director Brad Wilson has acquired world rights to Karma Brown’s Get Up Early, Change Your Life. Brown’s non-fiction debut is about how to accomplish your passion project by harnessing the power of the early-morning hours. Publication is scheduled for winter 2021. The deal was arranged by Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2020
116 people are currently reading
1196 people want to read
About the author
Karma Brown
15 books1,340 followersKARMA BROWN is a Canadian award-winning journalist, speaker, and the #1 bestselling author of six novels, including RECIPE FOR A PERFECT WIFE. She has also written the non-fiction bestseller THE 4% FIX, and has co-authored two holiday rom-coms under the pen name Maggie Knox. In addition to her books, Karma's writing has appeared in publications such as Redbook, SELF, and Chatelaine. Karma lives just outside Toronto with her husband, daughter, and a labradoodle named Fred. She released a holiday rom com in 2026 (THE CHRISTMAS CURE) under the pen name Kristine Winters, and her horror debut, MOTHER IS WATCHING publishes March 17, 2026.
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February 11, 2021You may be familiar with Karma’s fiction. Her blockbuster Recipe for a Perfect Wife was a favorite of mine last year (and is out in paperback now!) But her new book isn’t fiction at all. It’s about how to set small goals and achieve them. She talks a lot here about how she wrote her first book this way—finding one hour of the day when she could work on whatever she wanted—but it applies to any sort of hobby or goal. And she makes it fun. Her book is a joy to read, written as if your best friend is telling you to wake up an hour earlier to finish that screenplay or finally learn French. It’s been especially helpful for me as I feel the crunch of limited school and childcare. If you want to feel a little bit more proactive instead of reactive when it comes to time management, Karma’s your girl.
February 28, 2021
One of the most helpful and practical books I have ever read.
This book doesn't preach. It has the right proportion of experience, experiment, facts, references, how and what to dos.
I love how the chapters are planned and how they were written.
The whole book is quite convincing. It doesn't tell you what to do. Instead, it gives you choices; it gives you the space to take out time to think and look at your life all over again and not analyse it in a way that would make you feel you have been doing everything wrong.
And yes, dear readers, let's stop judging those who pick up books like this once in a while, every now and then because we need these books. Let's try to listen to those who actually made things happen. Look up on their achievements if you have a doubt when they give factual examples.
I picked up this book because I needed some inspiration and yes, some motivation. I needed some kind of convincing to carry on what I do.
I love what I do and I will continue what I love doing. There's no going back but I am someone who's crazy about work and more work.
So yes, these kind of books help me separate which things are worth pursuing and what to keep in mind, keep a balance of things. Because I cannot afford to make all the mistakes in due time and make myself doubt things I would do.
I believe in learning more from others' mistakes which I feel makes me see things beforehand. Such books point out the common mistakes we make (specifically the ones these successful people who write such books made).
One of the books I would always keep near my pillow.
This book doesn't preach. It has the right proportion of experience, experiment, facts, references, how and what to dos.
I love how the chapters are planned and how they were written.
The whole book is quite convincing. It doesn't tell you what to do. Instead, it gives you choices; it gives you the space to take out time to think and look at your life all over again and not analyse it in a way that would make you feel you have been doing everything wrong.
And yes, dear readers, let's stop judging those who pick up books like this once in a while, every now and then because we need these books. Let's try to listen to those who actually made things happen. Look up on their achievements if you have a doubt when they give factual examples.
I picked up this book because I needed some inspiration and yes, some motivation. I needed some kind of convincing to carry on what I do.
I love what I do and I will continue what I love doing. There's no going back but I am someone who's crazy about work and more work.
So yes, these kind of books help me separate which things are worth pursuing and what to keep in mind, keep a balance of things. Because I cannot afford to make all the mistakes in due time and make myself doubt things I would do.
I believe in learning more from others' mistakes which I feel makes me see things beforehand. Such books point out the common mistakes we make (specifically the ones these successful people who write such books made).
One of the books I would always keep near my pillow.
February 5, 2021
Adding this one to the “did not finish shelf’ - nothing new or interesting to add to the conversation.
Also, I hate the trope that the key to getting more done is getting up earlier, and that this is a solution for everyone. It’s not. You can find sleep scientists who contend that there is a genetic component to being an early bird or a late riser. In culture we’ve added a component of virtue to getting up before the sun. Guess what, I get up before the sun because I have a child- and it sucks. I do not get good work done at 5am. I do my best work at about 8pm with a glass of wine when my kid has gone to sleep and can’t ask me for anything (and noise canceling head phones so my husband can’t ask for anything either). Okay, end rant.
TLDR; you do you boo, but don’t bother with this book.
Also, I hate the trope that the key to getting more done is getting up earlier, and that this is a solution for everyone. It’s not. You can find sleep scientists who contend that there is a genetic component to being an early bird or a late riser. In culture we’ve added a component of virtue to getting up before the sun. Guess what, I get up before the sun because I have a child- and it sucks. I do not get good work done at 5am. I do my best work at about 8pm with a glass of wine when my kid has gone to sleep and can’t ask me for anything (and noise canceling head phones so my husband can’t ask for anything either). Okay, end rant.
TLDR; you do you boo, but don’t bother with this book.
February 23, 2021
Era da una vita che non leggevo un libro sullo sviluppo personale. Che ci crediate o meno, sono tra i miei preferiti perché è così che ho iniziato a leggere. Cercare di migliorarmi, sistemare i difetti di fabbricazione con cui tutti in un modo o nell’altro siamo nati.
Mi sa che c’è ancora molto lavoro da fare.
Leggendo questo libro ho ripensato ad Harley. Lui e’ un tizio di Sheffield che ho conosciuto su internet anni fa perché mi piaceva la musica che faceva. Sapete quelle cose tipo mega sperimentali. Quando ho saputo che avrebbe suonato in Italia a un concertino a Milano, mi sono subito offerto per ospitarlo da me.
Sì, sono il tipo di persona che ospiterebbe in casa propria qualcuno conosciuto su internet. O almeno, una volta lo ero.
Il fatto è che vivevo ancora coi miei e mia madre mi disse che quando lo vide tra piercing e tatuaggi aveva paura che ci avrebbe uccisi nel sonno.
Sì, mia madre e’ quel genere di persona così nevrotica che penserebbe una cosa del genere. Dopotutto ha partorito un cagacazzi come me, non so se mi spiego.
Ma senza dubbio mia madre non avrebbe avuto di che temere se avesse seguito i consigli dell’autrice di questo libro. Che in buona sostanza ci dice chiaro e tondo che la currency della nostra generazione e’ il tempo. Il tempo ragazzi.
Quindi dice, dividendo una giornata in 24 fette, che un’ora corrisponde al 4% della nostra giornata - da qui il titolo del libro - che sarebbe bello dedicare a qualcosa di produttivo tutto per noi.
Imparare una nuova lingua? Check
Suonare uno strumento? Vicini permettendo, check
Scrivere recensioni su un sito di libri per esorcizzare tua nevrosi? Double check
Il problema sta nel fatto che che un’ora libera al giorno noi non ce l’abbiamo. O almeno non io. E quindi? Be’, basta che ti svegli alle 5 e ti ritagli un’ora cosi.
Naomi Whaaaats?
Il libro e’ fluido e scritto come piace a me. L’autrice e’ sincera, sa che è una follia, ma sostiene che funziona. Per lei e per molta altra gente è il modo in cui portano avanti quello in cui credono. E chiaramente ha alla mano scientific evidence.
Nonostante in un paio di occasioni abbiamo rasentato il Confirmation Bias, io sono uno a cui piacciono sia le torte sia i pie charts per cui bene cosi, l’esperienza di lettura è stata di mio gradimento.
In buona sostanza l’autrice ci racconta il sequel di The Miracle Morning, e ci dice che si farebbe bene a farlo perchè nelle prime ore del mattino siamo piu produttivi, ma sa che dovendo dormire e che oltre al covid l’altra epidemia è quella legata alla deprivazione del sonno, ci dice di andar cauti. Raccoglie i migliori libri nonfiction sul sonno in un capitolo dedicato, ci da qualche spunto per fare chiarezza su cosa non va, per poi dirci chiaramente che se vuoi essere produttivo, se sei convinto che il 4% fix faccia per te, l’unico modo è quello di shiftare la giornata indietro. Un lavoraccio.
A me questo genere di libri piace molto, primo perché tenta disperatamente di trovare del tempo dove non c’è (love it) e secondo perché oh, se non è la tua tazza di te l’autore ti dice chiaramente di lasciar stare. Senza ombra di dubbio non un libro per tutti, ma se vi incuriosiscono queste cose, give it a try. Ma ci sarà del lavoro da fare per organizzarsi, altrimenti siamo spacciati.
Quando ho conosciuto Harley stavo con una ragazza che non ne voleva sapere di me. Le cose non funzionavano e vedendolo molto rilassato, spiegandogli la situazione gli ho chiesto «Dimmi un po’, ma secondo te che devo fare con questa?» e lui, come se niente fosse mi disse «Certe cose sono come i vestiti, se devi forzarle forse non sono della taglia giusta, no?» Io ho annuito ripetutamente per poi ignorare il suo consiglio.
Chiaramente qualche settimana dopo abbiamo rotto.
Forse incastrare la tua routine per trovarti del tempo per fare qualcosa che ami non è proprio il massimo. Non è roba per tutti, magari non è della vostra taglia.
Anche se mio padre, dall’alto della sua terza media, con il suo accento calabrese mi ha sempre insegnato che «E daje e daje, anche ‘a cipolla diventa aglio»
Peace Off
Mi sa che c’è ancora molto lavoro da fare.
Leggendo questo libro ho ripensato ad Harley. Lui e’ un tizio di Sheffield che ho conosciuto su internet anni fa perché mi piaceva la musica che faceva. Sapete quelle cose tipo mega sperimentali. Quando ho saputo che avrebbe suonato in Italia a un concertino a Milano, mi sono subito offerto per ospitarlo da me.
Sì, sono il tipo di persona che ospiterebbe in casa propria qualcuno conosciuto su internet. O almeno, una volta lo ero.
Il fatto è che vivevo ancora coi miei e mia madre mi disse che quando lo vide tra piercing e tatuaggi aveva paura che ci avrebbe uccisi nel sonno.
Sì, mia madre e’ quel genere di persona così nevrotica che penserebbe una cosa del genere. Dopotutto ha partorito un cagacazzi come me, non so se mi spiego.
Ma senza dubbio mia madre non avrebbe avuto di che temere se avesse seguito i consigli dell’autrice di questo libro. Che in buona sostanza ci dice chiaro e tondo che la currency della nostra generazione e’ il tempo. Il tempo ragazzi.
Quindi dice, dividendo una giornata in 24 fette, che un’ora corrisponde al 4% della nostra giornata - da qui il titolo del libro - che sarebbe bello dedicare a qualcosa di produttivo tutto per noi.
Imparare una nuova lingua? Check
Suonare uno strumento? Vicini permettendo, check
Scrivere recensioni su un sito di libri per esorcizzare tua nevrosi? Double check
Il problema sta nel fatto che che un’ora libera al giorno noi non ce l’abbiamo. O almeno non io. E quindi? Be’, basta che ti svegli alle 5 e ti ritagli un’ora cosi.
Naomi Whaaaats?
Il libro e’ fluido e scritto come piace a me. L’autrice e’ sincera, sa che è una follia, ma sostiene che funziona. Per lei e per molta altra gente è il modo in cui portano avanti quello in cui credono. E chiaramente ha alla mano scientific evidence.
Nonostante in un paio di occasioni abbiamo rasentato il Confirmation Bias, io sono uno a cui piacciono sia le torte sia i pie charts per cui bene cosi, l’esperienza di lettura è stata di mio gradimento.
In buona sostanza l’autrice ci racconta il sequel di The Miracle Morning, e ci dice che si farebbe bene a farlo perchè nelle prime ore del mattino siamo piu produttivi, ma sa che dovendo dormire e che oltre al covid l’altra epidemia è quella legata alla deprivazione del sonno, ci dice di andar cauti. Raccoglie i migliori libri nonfiction sul sonno in un capitolo dedicato, ci da qualche spunto per fare chiarezza su cosa non va, per poi dirci chiaramente che se vuoi essere produttivo, se sei convinto che il 4% fix faccia per te, l’unico modo è quello di shiftare la giornata indietro. Un lavoraccio.
A me questo genere di libri piace molto, primo perché tenta disperatamente di trovare del tempo dove non c’è (love it) e secondo perché oh, se non è la tua tazza di te l’autore ti dice chiaramente di lasciar stare. Senza ombra di dubbio non un libro per tutti, ma se vi incuriosiscono queste cose, give it a try. Ma ci sarà del lavoro da fare per organizzarsi, altrimenti siamo spacciati.
Quando ho conosciuto Harley stavo con una ragazza che non ne voleva sapere di me. Le cose non funzionavano e vedendolo molto rilassato, spiegandogli la situazione gli ho chiesto «Dimmi un po’, ma secondo te che devo fare con questa?» e lui, come se niente fosse mi disse «Certe cose sono come i vestiti, se devi forzarle forse non sono della taglia giusta, no?» Io ho annuito ripetutamente per poi ignorare il suo consiglio.
Chiaramente qualche settimana dopo abbiamo rotto.
Forse incastrare la tua routine per trovarti del tempo per fare qualcosa che ami non è proprio il massimo. Non è roba per tutti, magari non è della vostra taglia.
Anche se mio padre, dall’alto della sua terza media, con il suo accento calabrese mi ha sempre insegnato che «E daje e daje, anche ‘a cipolla diventa aglio»
Peace Off
August 8, 2022
"Lost time is never found again."
- Benjamin Franklin
In The 4% Fix: How One Hour can Change Your Life, Karma Brown reveals the latest research about time management and goal-setting and shares strategies that have worked for her as well as for others.
With short chapters, friendly writing tone, and sprinkles of humour I found this book easy to read, inspirational and encouraging.
"If I gave you one hour a day for something you've always wished to find time for – even if the "how" details were fuzzy – what would you do with it?...we're talking about a mere 4% of your day – one single hour."
I like the author's tip about setting the alarm 10 minutes earlier every week or two or every month until you are eventually getting up an hour earlier and have that hour to devote to something you really want to do.
Will I follow Karma Brown's 4% Fix plan? September would be the perfect month to start!
"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in the dark with a mosquito."
- Betty Reese
4 stars
- Benjamin Franklin
In The 4% Fix: How One Hour can Change Your Life, Karma Brown reveals the latest research about time management and goal-setting and shares strategies that have worked for her as well as for others.
With short chapters, friendly writing tone, and sprinkles of humour I found this book easy to read, inspirational and encouraging.
"If I gave you one hour a day for something you've always wished to find time for – even if the "how" details were fuzzy – what would you do with it?...we're talking about a mere 4% of your day – one single hour."
I like the author's tip about setting the alarm 10 minutes earlier every week or two or every month until you are eventually getting up an hour earlier and have that hour to devote to something you really want to do.
Will I follow Karma Brown's 4% Fix plan? September would be the perfect month to start!
"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in the dark with a mosquito."
- Betty Reese
4 stars
September 28, 2024
The thing I struggle with the most is getting up early in the morning. If someone told me before that this book is all about waking up at 5 am, I would have never read it. In hindsight, I am glad I found this book.
The author kind of persuaded me to be an early riser though. I have started working on my sleeping habits now. Let's see how it goes.
The first step to being an early bird solely depends upon when we sleep. Secondly, artificial lights and blue light devices stop the production of a sleep hormone called melatonin so that's why it's hard for us to fall asleep at night.
The 4 % fix refers to that one hour we will get if we start waking up early in the morning. That means 365 extra hours in a year out of our busy lives for anything we are passionate about but couldn't find any time for it in our daily schedule.
The author kind of persuaded me to be an early riser though. I have started working on my sleeping habits now. Let's see how it goes.
The first step to being an early bird solely depends upon when we sleep. Secondly, artificial lights and blue light devices stop the production of a sleep hormone called melatonin so that's why it's hard for us to fall asleep at night.
The 4 % fix refers to that one hour we will get if we start waking up early in the morning. That means 365 extra hours in a year out of our busy lives for anything we are passionate about but couldn't find any time for it in our daily schedule.
January 17, 2021
I’m already in the early risers camp so this book wasn’t so much about the need to change that habit. It was a fabulous reminder to use that time for something I want to do, not as an additional hour to get through the to-do list. A delightful, helpful read.
January 21, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Karma has me convinced I need to at least attempt to get up at 5am to start my day and to get my creativity juices flowing. I have always wanted to write a book and after the stories Karma told of her friends/acquaintances passing, it is kind of scary to imagine not getting to accomplish something I have dreamed of doing. This book really though is for anyone who has or wants a hobby or time to make a dream come true. Give the 5am club a shot. I know I am.
January 31, 2021
A practical and motivating book written as if your best friend was helping you make better choices. Highly recommend!
April 13, 2021
Some interesting points but found it a bit too repetitive and anecdotal.
November 3, 2021
This isn't Karma Brown's book. This is Karma Brown telling you about everyone else's books.
If every second line of your book sounds like:
"According to Cal Newport..."
"In Marie Kondo's book..."
"Matthew Walker recommends..."
...then maybe you shouldn't be allowed to publish your own book 🤷
If every second line of your book sounds like:
"According to Cal Newport..."
"In Marie Kondo's book..."
"Matthew Walker recommends..."
...then maybe you shouldn't be allowed to publish your own book 🤷
February 2, 2021
A simple premise, presented in short essays. A bit repetitive in terms of the concept presented.
March 14, 2024
this book could have been 1/4 of the size to get the same message across. very repetitive
December 9, 2020
Can you leverage one hour a day to change your life? Karma Brown, best-selling author of five novels and the new (non-fiction) The 4% Fix thinks so. When dealing with her young child, Brown found she was, like a lot of us, over-scheduled, over-stressed, and strapped for time she could use solely for herself. The answer? Set the clock for 5am and dedicate the first hour of every day to her writing. The result? A debut novel that became a national bestseller, and four more novels after that. The 4% Fix presents time management and goal-setting strategies that have helped Brown and many others find balance while pursuing bold dreams.
I saw a lot of myself in this book: a person pulled many directions professionally and personally, a woman with creative and career aspirations, and a mom willing to set life aside for carpool. While her conversational presentation and personal anecdotes kept things at a relatable level, Karma Brown did her research and provided the right amount of science to support her time management system. It's the perfect balance.
I'm going to say this first: This isn't a book only for writers. That said—hey, writer friends, this book is for you! Seriously, though, this is a book for multi-taskers who have bold goals that can't be accomplished in 10-minute increments and who need a nudge to try a new approach to knocking things off the never-ending to-do list.
NOTES ON THE AUDIO:
This is a conversational book, and the narrator comes across as accessible and friendly, like you're sitting at the table at Starbucks with your smart friend who's telling you about her latest life hiccups and how she used her superpowers to blow past them. I often find personal success books best in print, but I think The 4% Solution adapts well to audio. This means you get to save your print-reading time for other books (yay!) and be efficient by getting insight on how to capture time while you're exercising, driving, cleaning, or doing whatever it is you do when you listen to audiobooks.
This review is based on the audiobook. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing the audiobook for review purposes.
I saw a lot of myself in this book: a person pulled many directions professionally and personally, a woman with creative and career aspirations, and a mom willing to set life aside for carpool. While her conversational presentation and personal anecdotes kept things at a relatable level, Karma Brown did her research and provided the right amount of science to support her time management system. It's the perfect balance.
I'm going to say this first: This isn't a book only for writers. That said—hey, writer friends, this book is for you! Seriously, though, this is a book for multi-taskers who have bold goals that can't be accomplished in 10-minute increments and who need a nudge to try a new approach to knocking things off the never-ending to-do list.
NOTES ON THE AUDIO:
This is a conversational book, and the narrator comes across as accessible and friendly, like you're sitting at the table at Starbucks with your smart friend who's telling you about her latest life hiccups and how she used her superpowers to blow past them. I often find personal success books best in print, but I think The 4% Solution adapts well to audio. This means you get to save your print-reading time for other books (yay!) and be efficient by getting insight on how to capture time while you're exercising, driving, cleaning, or doing whatever it is you do when you listen to audiobooks.
This review is based on the audiobook. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing the audiobook for review purposes.
October 20, 2021
I was onboard with the premise of this book right away. One hour a day to work on a passion project and make small changes in your life is right up my alley. This author, Karma Brown, writes novels and doesn’t purport to be a self-help guru by any means. She shares what works for her and gives ideas of what might work for others.
Brown shares many techniques to be more mindful and efficient with your time. Each short chapter begins with an inspirational quote. A few of my favorites chapters/concepts are:
-- Having a reason to get out of bed
-- Create good habits
-- Morning larks versus night owls
-- Sleep!
-- Write it down
-- Know thyself
Brown also references other creative self help books that I’ve loved, specifically The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.
Thanks to San Diego County Library for the digital audio version via Libby app.
[Audio: 5 hours, 42 minutes]
Time spent listening: 4 hours, 32 minutes
Brown shares many techniques to be more mindful and efficient with your time. Each short chapter begins with an inspirational quote. A few of my favorites chapters/concepts are:
-- Having a reason to get out of bed
-- Create good habits
-- Morning larks versus night owls
-- Sleep!
-- Write it down
-- Know thyself
Brown also references other creative self help books that I’ve loved, specifically The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.
Thanks to San Diego County Library for the digital audio version via Libby app.
[Audio: 5 hours, 42 minutes]
Time spent listening: 4 hours, 32 minutes
February 3, 2021
Wow, Karma Brown. You made me think. The author is a very busy person and wrote this book (her first non-fiction book) to describe how she has written several novels by fitting in one hour of creative writing time by waking up at 5am to do nothing but write. She discusses how there are 4 categories of people (I am clearly in the 'night owl' category) and I don't think that waking at 5am will do anything for my creativity when my best ideas come at night. Still, she offers a lot of inspiration and emphasizes the importance of taking the first hour (4%) of the day just for you to do whatever excites you: whether it's learning a language or practicing music or journaling or fitness or writing a novel. I'm going to opt to take an evening hour to do the same thing (but thank you for the ideas, Ms. Brown). I appreciate such a positive and practical book.
December 3, 2020
Want to find more time in your day? Author Karma Brown has a solution, the 4% fix. Add an hour to your day by getting up earlier and use the time to do something that you want to do. Full of practical tips, reasons why to try it, and reassurance for obstacles you will encounter. A practical way to reclaim time in your busy life.
The narrator is believable and pleasant to listen to.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an arc for my honest review.
The narrator is believable and pleasant to listen to.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an arc for my honest review.
January 5, 2021
I received this book as an audiobook which has to be my favorite format for this genre of literature. The narrator for this audiobook was wonderful and engaging. While I don't tend to find much value in self-help type books I would say this one is less offensive than others. Where other self-help type books will provide next to no direction this book provided many steps and hints to push the reader along their path. I would recommend this book but especially the audiobook.
April 16, 2022
I really could have put the book down when the author started by saying that, "we all have the same 24 hours." I absolutely loathe that sentiment, and that is the only reason why the book gets four stars from me. Nonetheless, I'm happy that I pushed passed the sentiment to unlock the wonders of the book.
I don't think Karma Brown iterates anything new when it comes to time management, but her anecdotes and way of spinning things are the refresh that I personally could make good use of. Bonus points for the fact that I got to journal at the end of the book (This is the way to my heart).
The book is full of gentle reminders that we can achieve our creative endeavours amongst all of the other things that consume our time, and not just the ones that provide monetary kickback. When you look at one hour of your day as a mere 4%... you can't help but look at one hour differently - and want to do something with it.
What I love about this book is that the author isn't compelling anyone to start a business with their 4% - unless that's already what the reader wants to do. With your 4%, the author only asks that you do something purely for YOU with it.
I don't think Karma Brown iterates anything new when it comes to time management, but her anecdotes and way of spinning things are the refresh that I personally could make good use of. Bonus points for the fact that I got to journal at the end of the book (This is the way to my heart).
The book is full of gentle reminders that we can achieve our creative endeavours amongst all of the other things that consume our time, and not just the ones that provide monetary kickback. When you look at one hour of your day as a mere 4%... you can't help but look at one hour differently - and want to do something with it.
What I love about this book is that the author isn't compelling anyone to start a business with their 4% - unless that's already what the reader wants to do. With your 4%, the author only asks that you do something purely for YOU with it.
Read
March 5, 2023There's not a lot here. Brown does a nice job of brining in a lot of studies but I don't consider myself particularly well-versed on the topic and I had heard most of them. And I think she should have spent more time on the how and what, not the why (though I have this beef with most books of this kind - I picked the book up, I'm already sold on the concept....)
It did make me want to pick up some of her fiction, though!
It did make me want to pick up some of her fiction, though!
February 27, 2021
One thing that I always hear is, I'm guilty of it too is that I never have enough time... we all have the same 24 hours in a day. Is there something you want to do or learn but finding the time is the hard part?
Waking up one hour before the rest of your household is one way you can do whatever it is that you want to do, or accomplish.
Karma Brown is an author, mama and wife. And she talks about why you need to wake up one hour before and how in the mornings you can really accomplish alot. Yes, some days you may be distracted, things may get in the way but waking up that one hour will make a huge difference.
I enjoyed all the analogies that Karma used in this book and all the scientific facts behind waking up earlier. There are also more resources in the book to help you figure out your goals, and how to get there.
This book was also part of my @sweetreads #winterwellnessbox it was an awesome and inspiring read.
The 4% Fix
By Karma Brown
⭐⭐⭐⭐
.
Waking up one hour before the rest of your household is one way you can do whatever it is that you want to do, or accomplish.
Karma Brown is an author, mama and wife. And she talks about why you need to wake up one hour before and how in the mornings you can really accomplish alot. Yes, some days you may be distracted, things may get in the way but waking up that one hour will make a huge difference.
I enjoyed all the analogies that Karma used in this book and all the scientific facts behind waking up earlier. There are also more resources in the book to help you figure out your goals, and how to get there.
This book was also part of my @sweetreads #winterwellnessbox it was an awesome and inspiring read.
The 4% Fix
By Karma Brown
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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May 5, 2021
I did like this book and found it easy to read. Lots of great examples of how to get up early and work on your own project before anything else. My only criticism is that is seemed repetitive at times, but I guess repetition is good for truly honing in on the point!
June 2, 2022
I enjoyed listening to this Self-Help book! It’s what I needed to hear with Summer approaching. Ugg! I just wanna hit my snooze alarm! Why can’t I get everything marked off my list at the end of my day? Let’s get up and get’er done! My new mantra!
January 6, 2021
Written in a way that is clear and relatable, but "The 4% Fix" is just not quite concise enough for me. If I had written this review at the halfway mark I would have given it a higher rating, but I just started to feel it was dragging on to hit a page number count.
I found many of the anecdotes fun, but not always clearly relatable to the book's message or it seemed a stretch to relate to the chapter. The message to get up at 5am was emphasized heavily, but by the end of the book I was rushing to finish as I felt like I "got it" in the first 150 pages. This was a nice, upbeat, motivational piece, but not as in depth as expected. For all of the content that I read I think I could sum it all up in a page or two. Towards the end I felt it was getting repetitive and lacking substance. I also found some pieces a tad bit contradictory (like the author acknowledging four chronotypes, but then saying that based off the chronotypes she should actually be more creative at night which she doesn't find apply to her own life. What is the point of bringing them up if you find them flawed and perhaps not as related?)
Perhaps it is partially because I am not someone who finds the idea of waking up at 5am that crazy, as I am already comfortable with getting up earlier. I have never been a "snooze" button user, so rolling my alarm back another 1.5 hours doesn't seem that bad to me. I am not sure I was the target audience for this book, but I have started getting up at 5am anyway, so I guess the message got through!
I found many of the anecdotes fun, but not always clearly relatable to the book's message or it seemed a stretch to relate to the chapter. The message to get up at 5am was emphasized heavily, but by the end of the book I was rushing to finish as I felt like I "got it" in the first 150 pages. This was a nice, upbeat, motivational piece, but not as in depth as expected. For all of the content that I read I think I could sum it all up in a page or two. Towards the end I felt it was getting repetitive and lacking substance. I also found some pieces a tad bit contradictory (like the author acknowledging four chronotypes, but then saying that based off the chronotypes she should actually be more creative at night which she doesn't find apply to her own life. What is the point of bringing them up if you find them flawed and perhaps not as related?)
Perhaps it is partially because I am not someone who finds the idea of waking up at 5am that crazy, as I am already comfortable with getting up earlier. I have never been a "snooze" button user, so rolling my alarm back another 1.5 hours doesn't seem that bad to me. I am not sure I was the target audience for this book, but I have started getting up at 5am anyway, so I guess the message got through!
January 24, 2021
I am already a "morning lark" so part of reading this was for self affirmation, but I still thought it was laid out well and the author delivered her point well.
Read
February 20, 2021Gave it a 4 but for some reason it records my reviews as a 1. Some good tips and an easy read.
Read
January 11, 2023I didn't finish this book even though it is quite short. I will never, ever, ever get up earlier!
March 19, 2021
Demain sera le premier matin où je teste cette technique ! Très intéressant ! Voyons voir ce que je serai capable d'accomplir ! Merci E. pour la découverte !
September 9, 2021
2.5 stars
while the personal anecdotes through the book were mostly relatable (save any mention of toddlers running around), it was extremely repetitive… a long winded way of explaining why you should wake up earlier.
good advice but could be summarized into one chapter.
while the personal anecdotes through the book were mostly relatable (save any mention of toddlers running around), it was extremely repetitive… a long winded way of explaining why you should wake up earlier.
good advice but could be summarized into one chapter.
September 4, 2024
There isn’t anything too groundbreaking in this productivity book. Spoiler alert: the 4% Fix is waking up at 5 am (or similar) to give yourself an hour to spend on your preferred task. The twist: it must be a preferred-not productive!-task. So take that hour to write your novel, study Spanish, knit a sweater, etc. As someone who wants to do all of those things and more, I have a hard time thinking that I will want to get out my knitting needles while I am barely waking up. But I’ll give it a go! The author presents all of the barriers and benefits to this technique, along with some fun insights into productivity and passion. Seeing as she’s written several novels using her daily allotted hour, I’ll take her word for it.
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